Palm Springs, California, has evolved from Hollywoods desert playground to a top tourist destination for travelers from around the world and for good reason. The welcoming oasis boasts gorgeous vistas, great shopping and dining and a lot of fascinating history.

But visitors dont always experience Palm Springs and the surrounding area to the fullest. We asked locals to share some common errors theyve observed from tourists.

From skimping on hydration to missing the best local treasures, here are 11 mistakes tourists often make while visiting Palm Springs and some advice for avoiding these errors during your travels.

Skimping On Hydration

Its the desert, so you dont feel when you sweat. And while I highly recommend a margarita or three make sure youre drinking lots of water and getting your electrolytes too. Heat stroke is real be very careful and prepared when imbibing, hiking or even lounging by the pool. Kelly Lee, blogger at Kelly Golightly

Forgetting Sun Protection

A mistake would be not packing a giant hat, sunglasses and sunscreen. The sun is wonderful but intense you dont want to burn to a crisp and look like a lizard. Lee

Missing The Local Businesses

When tourists visit Palm Springs and surrounding areas, they dont capitalize on the small mom-and-pop locations. We have really great eateries, artisan shops, art galleries, etc. A lot of the time I see tourists run straight to the big-name shops and businesses, which I dont see there being a problem with, but in my opinion, they are not experiencing the real Palm Springs and surrounding areas. Palm Springs has a very rich and artist history, and the rate of growth is exceeding all expectations. So this means new small businesses are opening all the time and are waiting to be discovered! Justin Snyder , private chef

Assuming Its Not Family Friendly

Tourists might think Palm Springs is not family friendly, but there are many things to do for the entire family. There are beautiful hikes such as Tahquitz Canyon, delicious restaurants including Farm, which creates a cozy environment and dessert at Great Shakes, which is a definite blast to the past. Palm Springs is a gem. There is something here for everyone. Angela Yanez-Gaitan , lifestyle blogger